Planting dates for Detroit
Frost dates and sow windows from the 30-year record at Mt Clemens Ang Base Hcn, the official station 36 km from Detroit, Michigan.
Sow and transplant events for the staples, straight from this page.
Key windows for Detroit (2026)
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | March 19 | May 7 |
| Pepper | March 5 | May 14 |
| Peas | – | March 26 |
| Lettuce | March 5 | April 2 |
| Carrot | – | April 9 |
| Bush beans | – | May 7 |
| Garlic (longer than the average season; use short varieties) | – | Fall planted |
| Potato | – | April 16 |
Mean-date planning windows, not guarantees; watch the local forecast at the shoulders. Method on the methodology page.
Detroit planting questions
When is the last frost in Detroit?
Around April 30, the 30-year mean date of the last spring frost at Mt Clemens Ang Base Hcn, the official station 36 km from Detroit. Half of years see frost after the mean, so tender crops usually wait a week or more past it.
When can I plant tomatoes in Detroit?
Start seeds indoors around March 19 and transplant around May 7, once nights hold above 50F. The full 32-crop table on the planner computes every window for Detroit.
How long is the growing season in Detroit?
About 174 frost-free days on average, from roughly April 30 to October 24. Crops whose days-to-maturity exceed that window need transplants, short-season varieties, or season extension.
How this page was made
Every date above is computed from the NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals at Mt Clemens Ang Base Hcn: the 30-year mean dates of last spring and first fall frost, with crop offsets from standard horticultural practice. Full method and crop sources: data and methodology. These are planning averages, not forecasts: half of years frost later than the mean, so harden off transplants and watch the local forecast at the shoulders of the season.
More for Detroit: winter tire dates. Need every crop, or a different place? The full calendar covers 32 crops at 2697 stations.